Institut Pasteur Korea Held the 2nd Research Strategy
Advisory Committee Meeting
 

Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) held the 2nd Research Strategy Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as RSAC) Meeting on September 28, following the 1st meeting last March. The advisory committee consisting of seven domestic experts in the field of infectious diseases and drug development sat down to discuss the mid- to long-term strategies of the institute. 



Dr. Sangchul Lee, Head of the Strategic Planning Team at IPK, presented follow-up strategies and the progress made according to the results of the 1st RSAC Meeting. Dr. Lee explained that IPK is implementing various action items to strengthen its research capabilities in vaccines, immunology, diagnostics, and medicinal chemistry with the aim to advance core research fields such as emerging infectious diseases. IPK has been consolidating its role as a key infectious disease research institute in Korea through expanded collaboration with other research/public health institutions and operation of the Virus Research and Resource Center Construction Project. Moreover, it has been making efforts to establish an organic cooperation system by increasing participation in the Institut Pasteur International Network (IPIN) research projects and running a regular consultative body initiated by the co-representative, Dr. Youngmee Jee, of the IPIN for the Asia-Pacific region. Subsequently, five strategic plans containing a mid-to-long-term progress roadmap for the institute were shared. 

The RSAC suggested that changes and progress have been witnessed at IPK following the inauguration of CEO Dr. Youngmee Jee, including multi-faceted achievements and further vitalization of domestic and international networks. The RSAC addressed that the significance of infectious disease research becomes prominent with increasing demand and the domestic infectious disease R&D landscape has been diversified. They expected IPK to make a strategic position and contribute to advancing domestic infectious disease R&D by enhancing research capabilities with reinforced manpower and infrastructure based on its unique competitiveness and by creating synergies with related institutions. 

"Considering the recommendations from the 1st RSAC Meeting, we have set the direction and been implementing detailed strategies step by step," said Dr. Jee. "As per advice from today's RSAC Meeting, we will bring our competency in vaccine and diagnostics research up to par with our distinctive capabilities demonstrated recently in COVID-19 drug repositioning research. Combining expertise with domestic and international networks, IPK will fulfill its role as a flagship center for infectious disease research, contributing to public health in the Asia-Pacific region and globally," she claimed.

* Advisory Committee: Prof. Man-Seong Park, Korea University College of Medicine; Dr. Bum Tae Kim, Director of the Center for Convergence Research of Emerging Virus Infection (CEVI), KRICT; Dr. Joo-sil Lee, Director of GFID; Dr. Choong-Min Ryu, Director of Infectious Disease Research Center, KRIBB; Prof. Seung Bum Park, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University; Prof. Seonghwan Kim, Infectious Medicine, Seoul Asan Hospital; and Prof. Euicheol Shin, KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering.